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About the author

Dr. Sunil C. Joshi received his Ph.D. degree from Monash University (Australia) for his work on composites manufacturing processes. Prior to that he worked as Scientist at National Aerospace laboratories, Bangalore, India, where he was part of the composite structures group from 1988 to 1994 after completing his M. Tech in Aeronautical Engineering with aircraft structures specialization.He has been a faculty in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, since 2000, currently serving under Aerospace Engineering cluster with Materials and Structures as the focus area.His research interests encompass aerogel composites, nano-engineered composites, microwave curing, manufacturing of thick composites, damages in braided and filament wound composites, and hygrothermal effects on composites. He looks into applications of composites for impact resistance, thermal insulation, and acoustic damping.He is an area editor for an Elsevier Journal and serves as reviewer for a number of international journals. He has more than 120 international journal and conference papers, 1 book, 1 applied patent and 5 book chapters to his publication list.

Mahesh Sachithanadam received his Bachelors’ Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2010, with Class 1 Honors. He worked previously as a Military Expert (Engineer) in the Republic of Singapore Armed Forces (RSAF). He is currently pursuing PhD on aerogel composites under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Sunil Chandrakant Joshi from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.Mahesh has been working on aerogel composites for his PhD and has presented his work on “A New Phenomenon of Compressive Strain Recovery in Gelatin-silica Aerogel Composites with SDS”, “Brittle to Ductile Transitions in Silica Aerogel Behaviour with Post Synthesis Binding Treatment” and “High strain recovery with improved mechanical properties of gelatin–silica aerogel composites post-binding treatment” at various forums. Mahesh also coauthored a pending patent titled “Compressibility, Strain Recovery and Hydrophobicity in Silica Aerogel Composites” (TD/181/13) with his supervisor. Currently he is compiling his thesis.

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This book explores the improvement in thermal insulation properties of protein-based silica aerogel composites fabricated by a novel, inexpensive and feasiblemethod. The resulting material exhibits polymeric foam behavior including high compressibility, super-hydrophobic qualities and excellent strain recovery in addition to low thermal conductivity. The fabrication methodologies are explained in great detail and represented in flowcharts for easy reference and understanding. This monograph gives readers a new perspective on composite fabrication using methods other than the traditional ones and explores the endless ways of altering the composition to modify the properties of the silica aerogel composites. Applications for this novel composite are diverse and range from those in the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries to the oil and gas industries.